CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7] — Page 564

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5.

I have now instructed the Postmaster General

to inform the Chinese Mining and Engineering Company that

subject to your approval which is being asked for I am

prepared to start the office onthe above basis from the

1st. October, 1906, and at the same time have told him to

point out to the Company that, as it is possible, if not

probable, that the Post Office at Tientsin may be run at

a loss to this Goverment and is being established in the

interests of British merchants at Tientsin and their corres

pondents in England as well as for the advantage of British

prestige in China, it is hoped that the Company will co-

operate with this Government in keeping down the expendi-

ture to the minimum compatible with efficient working.

6.

I now ask Your Lordship's approval to making

this experiment for a year from the 1st. October, 1906, and

that this approval may be communicated to me by telegraph.

A telegram consisting of the single word "Post" will suf-

fice for this purpose. On the receipt of such a telegram I

will obtain the necessary vote for this year from the Legis-

lative Council, and make the required provision in the

Estimates for 1907.

7.

Should Your Lordship's decision be favoura-

ble, I would suggest that the Authorities at St.Martin's

year.

le Grand be requested to make an announcement that for one

from